Sock printing machine, method, and article



March 14, 1961 L. A. PARHAM 2,974,838

SOCK PRINTING MACHINE, METHOD AND ARTICLE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1956 INVENTOR LEE ROY PARHAM ATTORNEY March 14, 1961 L. R. PARHAM 2,974,838

SOCK PRINTING MACHINE, METHOD AND ARTICLE Filed Dec. 27, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

LEE ROY PARHAM ATTORNEY March 14, 1961 L. R. PARHAM 2,974,838

SOCK PRINTING MACHINE, METHOD AND ARTICLE Filed Dec. 27, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet s K 7 v QG a0 3mm? INVENTOR LEE ROY PARHAM March 14, 1961 L. R. PARHAM 2,974,838

SOCK PRINTING MACHINE, METHOD AND ARTICLE Filed Dec. 27, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR LE E ROY PARHAM w/s draw ATTORNEY March 14, 1961 L. R. PARHAM 2,974,838

socx PRINTING MACHINE, METHOD AND ARTICLE Filed Dec. 27, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Win-1G dung-1F INVENTOR LE E ROY PARHAM ATTORNEY March 14, 1961 L. R. PARHAM 2,974,838

SOCK PRINTING MACHINE, METHOD AND ARTICLE Filed D80. 27, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 IW\AJ' INVENTOR LEE ROY PARHAM aw/i427 $424.0

ATTORNEY March 14, 1961 L. R. PARHAM 2,974,838

SOCK PRINTING MACHINE, METHOD AND ARTICLE Filed Dec. 27, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR LEE ROY PARHAM Ma /paw ATTORNEY United States Patent SUCK PRINTING MACHINE, METHOD, AND ARTICLE Lee R. Parham, Franklinville, N.C., assignor to Burlington Industries, Inc., Greensboro, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 27, 1956, Ser. No. 630,795

29 Claims. (Cl. 22376) This invention to the art of design printing articles and more particularly to a machine and procedure for printing dye in the form of designs or patterns on fabricated textile articles, such as mens socks and the like.

This invention constitutes an improvement over the machine and procedure disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 563,065, filed February 2, 1956, now Patent No. 2,927,526. In that application, the machine and procedure are illustrated as being utilized in the printing of mens socks. The socks are fitted over cardboard inserts that serve to stretch the same and hold them in a flat condition so that they can be fed through cooperating printing rollers which deposit the successive dyes therein suitable to form a multi-colored design on the socks. The dyed socks are immediately passed through a dryer where the design is dried while the socks are positioned on the inserts.

While the procedure of my copending application Serial No. 563,065, as outined above, has proven quite satisfactory, the inserts utilized were such as to necessitate the subsequent removal of the socks therefrom so that they could undergo subsequent treatment necessary to establish the fastness of the dye printed thereon. Thus, in practice, after the socks had been dried and removed from the inserts, the dye was aged and then the socks subsequently Washed and dried. The necessity of removing the socks from the inserts to perform the latter procedures increased the cost of the overall procedure due to the manual handling required.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus of printing fabricated textile articles, such as mens socks and the like, which includes the positioning of the article on an insert, printing a dye in design form on the article, drying the printed design on the article, steam aging the dye-printed design, washing the steam aging article and then drying the washed article, all of the above procedure being carried on while the article is at all times positioned on the insert.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus for printing a design on fabricated textile articles, such as mens socks and the like, which includes means for feeding successive insert-mounted socks to a conveying means for moving successive pairs of socks along a predetermined path, and means operable during the movement of the insert-mounted articles through the path for successively printing a dye on the articles, drying the printed dye on the articles, steam aging the dried dye on the articles, washing the steam aged dye on the articles, and then drying the washed articles.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for printing designs on fabricated textile articles which is continuous in operation so as to obtain a'maximum output.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of apparatusof the type described, including improved means forautomatically" feeding insert-mounted ice articles to a conveying means arranged to carry the socks by their inserts.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus of the type described, including a printing section having cooperating printing rollers mounted for adjustment with respect to each other so as to accommodate articles of varying thicknesses fed therethrough.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus of the type described, including improved conveying means for carrying successive insertmounted articles through the apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of conveying means of the type described of sectional construction having improved means for transferring the insert-mounted articles from one section to the next.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus of the type described having an improved drying means therein for quickly and effectively drying the article or the dye printed thereon.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel insert for supporting tubular-fabricated textile articles through apparatus of the type de scribed.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following detailed description and appended claims. 7

The invention may be best understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment is shown In the drawings: a

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the means for feeding successive insert-mounted arti cles into the apparatus and the means for printing the dye in design form on the articles; I

Figure 2A is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of Figure 2;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of an insert upon which the article, such as a mans' sock, is positioned;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the insert is supported on the first section of the conveying means; p

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, with parts broken away, illustrating the manner in which the insert-mounted articles are carried around one pair of sprocket wheels of the chain conveyor;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the manner in which the cooperating printing rollers of the printing means are mounted;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line $8 of Figure 7; f

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with certain parts removed for purpose of clearer illustration, showing the manner in which the insert-mounted articles are transferred from the first section of the conveying means to the second section of the conveying means;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 9; V,

V Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along. the line 11--11 of Figure l; V

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with parts broken away, showing the steam aging means and the washing means of the apparatus; p

Figure 13 is a top plan view, partially brokenaway, of the portion of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 12';

Figure 14 is 'a vertical sectional view showing the dry ing means of the apparatus; and

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 15-15 of Figure 14.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 an apparatus for printing dye in design or pattern formation on tubular-fabricated textile articles, such as socks or the like, which apparatus embodies the principles of the present invention. In general, the apparatus is arranged to continuously move two series of articles along parallel perdetermined paths from the infeed end of the apparatus to the discharge end thereof. The present apparatus is shown as being arranged to print dye in design form on mens socks and the like and for this purpose, each sock which is fed to the machine is stretched over or positioned on an insert, generally indicated at 10, and shown in detail in Figure 4.

Each insertis preferably made. of 'a relatively thin flexible sheet of material which is impervious to water and resistant to deterioration upon contact'with steam and/or acetic acid and like chemicals. One example of such a material is fiberboard, although it will be understood that other materials possessing similar properties may be utilized, if desired. As shown in Figure 4, each insert includes an elongated article receiving portion 12 which has an outline configuration which conforms generally to the outline configuration of a conventional sock. Formed on the upper end of the article receiving portion is a supporting portion 14, which preferably is in the form of a horizontal strip formed integrally with the upper end of the sock receiving portion and extending transversely outwardly from opposite sides thereof. Formed on the supporting strip 14 adjacent each end thereof are pin engaging openings or notches 16, which preferably are of inverted V-shaped form, facing toward the lower end of the portion 12. 1

A stack of inserts 16 having articles, such as socks, mounted thereon are positioned in an article feeding means, generally indicated at 18, which operates to periodically feed successive insert-mounted articles in a position to be received by a first conveyingmeans or section,

generally indicated at 20. As best shown in Figure 5, the conveying means 20 comprises a pair of spaced chains 22having inwardly extending lugs 24 spaced longitudinally throughout their extent. A pin 26 extends outwardly fromeach lug 24 in a direction away from the periphery of the chains.

Successive pins 26 of the chains 22 engage the notches 16 of successive inserts positioned in their path of travel bythe operation of the article feeding means 18. The conveying means 26 is arranged to carry successive insertmounted articles from-the feeding means 18 through a printing means or section, generally indicated at 28. During the movement of successiveinsert-mountedarticlesthrough the printing section 28, a design of multicolored'dye is printed on the socks in any suitable form or pattern; After successive insert-mounted articles are moved'through the printing section 28, the conveying means 20 moves the same into a position adjacent to and overlying a second conveying means or section, generally indicated at 30. Suitable article transferring means 32 is provided in cooperating relation with the conveying means 20 for transferring successive insert-mounted articles from the conveying means 20 .to the conveying means 30.

, On the conveying, means 3a), the printed insert-mounted articles are first moved through a drying means, generally indicated at.34, where the dye printed on the articles in the printing section 28 is dried. Next, the conveying means 30 moves successive insert-mounted articles through a stearn aging means, generally indicated at 36, where the dried dye printed on the articlesis steam aged in the'conventional manner so as to make'the colors of the dye fast. The conveying means 36 then moves the insert-mounted articles through a washing means, generally indicated at 38, where the articles are washed while on the inserts. Finally, the. conveying means 30 moves the washed articles supportedon the inserts through a second drying means, generally indicated at 40, which serves to dry the washed articles, thus permanently setting the dyes in a fast condition. I 7

The chains 22 are arranged to provide a horizontal flight disposed below the article feeding means 18 so as to receive and carry successive insert-mounted articles fed therefrom. Following the horizontal flight, the chains 22 include a vertical flight during which the insert-mounted articles are carried through the printing section 28. Following the vertical flight is an upwardly inclined or downwardly facing transfer flight where the insert-mounted articles are stripped from the conveying means 20 and moved onto the conveying means 30. A frame 42 of any suitable construction isprovided in order to mount the conveying means 20 in the relationship noted above. The horizontal, vertical and upwardly inclined flights of the conveying means 20 are formed by training the chains 22 about axially aligned pairs of spaced sprocket wheels 44, 46, 43 and 50 suitably journaled on the frame 42. The return flight of the conveying means 20 is supported by axially aligned pairs of spaced sprocket wheels 52, 54, 56 and 58 suitably journaled on the frame 42 in the positions shown in Figure 2.

The article feeding means 18 comprises an elongated member 60 of U-shaped cross-section arranged to receive the toe end of the insert-mounted articles. The member 60 is positioned above the horizontal flight of the conveying means 20 by any suitable means, such as a bifurcated arm 62 having its lower ends pivotally connected to the upper ends of member 60 and its upper end rigidly secured to a sleeve 64. Sleeve 64 is mounted for longitudinal adjustment on a rod 66 secured between the lower ends of longitudinally spaced brackets 68 and 70. The bracketsmay be suitably secured to the drying means 34 as shown in Figure 2. Secured between the arm 62 and member 69 is a pair of braces 72. Preferably, the braces 72 are adjustably mounted with respect to either the member 63 or the arm 62 so that the former may be retained in varying positions of angular adjustment. The lower end of the member 62 includes an inturned bottom flange 74 which engages the lowermost insertmounted article of the stack so as to supportone end of the latter.

The opposite end or supporting portions 14 of the stack of insert-mounted articles is supported by a pair of upper and lower cam elements 76 and 78. The upper cam element 76 is rigidly secured to an upright hollow shaft 80, while the lower'cam element 78 is rigidly secured to the lower end of a shaft 82 journaled in the hollow shaft 80. A bearing sleeve 84 rotatably receives the hol low shaft and is mounted in a fixed adjusted position by means of a bracket 86'secured to the printing section 28and a cooperating bracket 88 secured to the sleeve 84 and to the bracket '86 for longitudinal adjustment by means of bolts 90 extending through suitable slots in the bracket 88. The upper end of the shaft 82 has a pulley 92 secured thereto, while the hollow shaft 80 has a pulley 94 secured to its upper end. Belts 9 6 and 98 are trained about the pulleys 92 and 94, respectively, and about pulleys connected with a source *of rotative power (not shown).

It will be seen that the stack supporting member 66 may be retained in any angular position of'adjustment by suitably varying the position of the arm 62 along the rod 66 and the position of the braces .72 between the arm 62 and the member 60. Likewise, the longitudinal position of the cam elements'76 and 78 may be longitudinally varied by positioning the brackets 88 and 86 in different positions of adjustment by means of the bolts 90. In this manner, the article receiving means is adjustable to receive various size inserts f I A stack of insert-mounted articles are mounted so that the toe end of the lowermost insert engages the flange portion 74 and the supporting portion, 14 of the lowermost insert engages the-uppercam76, The rotation of the shafts 80 and 82;and, hencerfiam-elements 76 and 78 is timed with respect to the movement of the conveying means 20 and with respect to each other so that when the cam element 76 has been rotated into a position permitting the supporting portion 14 of the lowermost insert of the stack to fall onto the lower cam element 78, the latter'will be in a position to support the same. The upper cam element 76 is formed so that it will move into engagement with the supporting portion 14 of the insert above the lowermost insert so as to assurne the support of the entire stack thereabove. The lower cam element 78 is formed so that it will subsequently rotate into a position permitting the supporting portion 14 of the lowermost insert supported thereon to fall down into the path of move ment of the pins 26 of the chains 22. These pins will move into engagement with the notches 16 and, hence, pull or carry the lowermost insert out of engagement with the flange 74.

As briefly noted above, the present apparatus is constructed for dual operation. That is, a pair of inserts are carried along parallel predetermined paths through the machine in side oy-side relation. Thus, the article feeding means 13 described above is duplicated with a similar arrangement mounted in side-by-side relation thereto. it will also be understood that conveying means 20 ineludes two pairs of spaced chains 22 for picking up the inserts fed from each of the two parallel feeding means 18. In a like manner, the printing means 28 and the conveying means 30, hereinafter more fully described, is duplicated. While a dual arrangement is shown, it will be understood that the apparatus may be readily modified to accommodate one or more than two series of articles.

The printing means or section 28 is constructed generally in confromity with the construction of the printing section illustrated in my aforesaid copending application. Briefly, the means 28 includes a housing or subframe 100 of any suitable construction. Journalcd within the sub-frame are pairs of vertically spaced cooperating printing rolls or rollers 102 and 104. Any desired number of roller pairs may be provided and, as shown, three such pairs are employed, each being arranged to print a difierent colored dye on the articles passing there- =between. In accordance with the usual practice, the printing rollers 2 and 104 of each pair have mounted for cooperating movement therewith the usual dye supplying equipment (not shown). Thus, a suitable rotary brush or the like for supplying dye from a supply tray or the like to the peripheral surface of each roller is provided along with a doctor blade for removing the dye supplied to the peripheral surface of each roller except where the design is formed therein.

As best shown in Figures 7 and 8, each pair of rollers 102 is mounted for adjustment toward and away from each other so as to accommodate articles of varying thickness. To this end, the roller 102 includes a shaft 106, each end of which is journaled within a bearing 108 suitably mounted on a horizontal frame member 110 of the sub-frame 100 in fixed relation therewith. The other roller 104 includes a shaft 112, each end of which is journfled Within a bearing 114 mounted on the upper surface of the associated horizontal frame member 110. A pair of bolts 11 6 is threaded within the end of each frame member 110 adjacent the associated hearing 11 4 and the latter includes elongated slots 117 through which the bolts 116 extend. Preferably, the heads of the bolts 116 are disposed above the upper surface of the adjacent portion of the associated bearing and a coil spring 118 is mounted in surrounding relation with each bolt between the head thereof and the adjacent surface of the associated bearing 114. A bar 120 ex tends between the bearings 108 and 114 on each side of the rollers. Each bar 120 has one end thereof rigidly secured to the associated bearing 108 and the opposite end thereof provided with a threaded section 122' for positioning within a bore 124 formed in the adjacent endofthe associated bearing 114. A. nut member 126 is threadedly mounted on the section 1220: each bar and is arranged'to engage the adjacent surface of the associated bearing 114.

The bearings 114 are maintained in engagement with the nut members 126 by means of a pair of transversely spaced bolts 128 threaded through suitable lugs or the like 130 rigidly carried by spaced vertical frame members 132 of the sub-frame 100. The inner end of each bolt 128 is rotatably connected with a bar 134 having a serrated outer surface 136. Extending between the serrated surface 136 of each bar 134 and the adjacent surface of the associated bearing 114 is a pair of resilient members 138, which preferably may be in the form of hard rubber blocks or the like.

The vertical flight of the conveying means 20, which serves to move the insert-mounted articles between the pairs of cooperating rollers 102 and 104, is stabilized by means of vertical plates 140 which are suitably fixed to the frame 100'in a position to engage the chains 22. Each pair of rollers 102 and 104 is rotated in timed relation by means of spur gears 142 and 144 mounted, respectively, on the shafts 106 and 112. Suitably journaled on the frame 100 below the shafts 106 and 112 are stub shafts 146 and 148 which carry, respectively, spur gears 150 and 152 which, in turn, mesh with the gears 142 and 144, respectively. On the outer end of the shafts 146 and 148, sprocket wheels 154 and 156 are suitably mounted in fixed relation. A chain 158 is trained about each pair of sprocket wheels 154 and 156 so as to impart opposite rotary motion thereto as indicated in Figure 2. The remainder of the sprocket chain 158 is trained about an upper sprocket wheel 160, an intermedh ate sprocket wheel 162 and a lower sprocket wheel 164 suitably mounted on the main frame 42 in the positions shown in Figure 2.

The sprocket wheels 48, which together with the sprocket wheels 50 define the upwardly inclined transfer flight of the conveying means 20, are formed so that they will move the insert-mounted articles into a position parallel with the flight and retain thern'on the pins 26 as they are moved thereto. To this end, each sprocket wheel 48 includes an upwardly projecting annular portion having an annular groove 172 formed in theouter periphery thereof suitable to receive the pins 26 secured to the chains 22. The annular portion 170 is thus positioned so as to engage the surface of the supporting portion 14 of the inserts which is adjacent the notches 16. Thus, as the inserts are moved into contact and around the annular portions 170 of the sprocket wheels 48, they will be engaged and moved as a result of this engagement into a position substantially parallel with the upwardly inclined transfer flight. The sprocket wheels 48 are mounted on a shaft 174 which extends between the pair of chains 22. In order to insure that the inserts will be retained on the pins of the chains, a pair of rods 176 are suitably mounted in fixed relation in a position just below and inwardly of the chains 22 so as to engage the outer ends of the supporting portions 14 of the inserts. The rods 176 are spaced apart suflicient to permit the article receiving portions 12 to extend therebetween.-

It can thus be seen that each successive insert-mounted article is carried around the sprocket wheels 48 and thus disposed in a substantially horizontal position. As the insert is moved along the upwardly inclined flight, the rods 176, by virtue of their engagement with the ends of the supporting portion 14 of the insert, will retain the insert in this substantially horizontal position. Preferably, the inserts are sufiiciently stifi so that the article receiving portion 12 thereof will be held outwardly in cantilever fashion by this engagement. If support for the portion 12 is necessary, this is provided by thcshaft 174. As best shown in Figure 9, the rods extend from the sprocket wheels 48 parallel with the transfer: and terminate intermediate'the ends of 'thelatter.

The transferring means 32, which includes the structure described above for positioning the inserts on the transfer flight, also includes a pair of arms 178 having their upper ends suitably fixed to the frame 42 andangular lower ends 180 disposed in a position to be engaged by thesupportin'g portion of the inserts adjacent the notches 16. The arm ends 180 are also disposed adjacent the terminal ends of the rods 176 so that as the .inserts are moved away from the latter, they will subsequently engage the arm ends 180 and be moved free from the pins 26 and allowed to drop Tonto the conveying means 30.' It-will be noted'that the position of the arm ends 180 is related to the position of the shaft 174 so that the toe end of the inserts will have been moved past the shaft so that the latter does not impede the fall of the insertsonto the conveying means 30. The conveying means30 comprises'spaced endless chains 182 trained about a forward pair of sprocket wheels 184 suitably journaled on the frame 42 and 'a rearward pair of sprocket wheels 186 (see Figure 14) suitably supported by the drying means 40.

As best shown in Figures 9 and 10, the ends of the chains 182 adjacent the sprocket wheels'184 are positioned below the transfer flight of the chains 22 so that when the transferring means 32 strips the inserts from their connection with the pins 26 on the chains 22, the chains 182 are in a position to receive the ends of the supporting portions 14 of the inserts. Of course, the chains 182 are spaced apart sufficient to permit the article supporting portions of the inserts to extend therebetween.

The chains 182 are preferably driven continuously at a desired constant speed so. that the inserts will move successively through the drying means 34, steam aging means 36, washing means 38 and final drying means 40 and to the discharged end of the apparatus. Preferably, all of the above-mentioned means are positioned in alignment with each other and disposed in a downwardly inclined angle.

The drying means '34 and drying means 40 are preferably of substantially identical construction and, therefore, a description of one should suflice to give an understanding of both. The construction of the drying means 40 is shown in Figures 14 and 15 and will now be described, bearing in mind that the construction also applies to the drying means 34. The drying means 40 includes a tubular housing 190 having open ends through which the chains 182 extend. .Mounted throughout the interior of the housing are suitable bracing elements 192 which carry longitudinally extending rails 188 disposed below the upper flight of the chains 182 so as to support the same during their travel within the housing. If desired, suitable idler sprockets 193 may be'mounted on the bracing elements 192 for supporting the lower flight of the chains. The upper flight of the chains 182, which support the ends of the supporting portions14 of the inserts, is disposed so that articles carried on the portions 12 of'theinserts will be-maintained' in the central upper portion of the housing.

Mounted within a'suitable aperture formed in the cen tral portion of the upper wall ofthe-housing 190 is a heater box 194 having a heater 1% of any suitable construction mounted therein inspaced relation from the lower end thereof. The upper end of the box 194'includes an inlet opening which communicates with the discharge of a'rotary' axial flow blower assembly 198. The blower assembly 198 may be driven ,by any suitable means, such as an'electric motor 200 connected therewith through a pulley and belt system202. Y

"The lowerbnd of the heater box 194 includes lateral openings which communicate with elongated manifold ducts 204 extending substantially throughout the length of the housing 190-in the upper corners thereof, 'Extendingdownwardly from each manifold duct 204 is a series of longitudinally spaced vertical duct sections 206.

Each duct section 206has its upper-end communicating 8 with the associated manifold duct 204 and its lower end open so as to provide a discharge of warm air into the housing 190 at a position adjacent the lower portion thereof. I

Formed in the upper wall of the housing 190 in longitudinally spaced relation on opposite sides of the box 194 are suitable apertures within which a pair of downwardly facing tapered ducts are mounted. The upper end of each tapered duct 208 is open and connected with one end of a return duct 210. The opposite end of each return duct is connected the central portion of the blower assembly 198. As shown in Figure l, the side walls of the housing 190 may be provided with doors 212 for the purpose of providing access to the interior of the housing for inspection and repair.

The steam aging means 36 comprises a housing 214 having open ends for receiving the conveying means therethrough. As before, the interior of the housing is provided with bracing elements 216 which carry longitudinally extending rails 218, similar to the rails 188, for supporting the upper flight of the chains 182 within the housing 214. Idler sprockets 220 may be journaled on the bracing elements 216 for supporting the lower flight of the chains 182, as before. The lower wall of the housing 214 is depressed, as at 222, in the form of a trough configuration. The discharge end of a pipe 224,. connected to a source of live steam (not shown) is disposed within the trough-shaped portion 222 for directing steam into the interior of the housing 214. Disposed within the housing above the trough portion 222 is a perforated shelf or plate 226 which permits the steam issuing from the pipe 224 to enter into the interior portion of the housing in surrounding relation to the articles therein. The shelf 226 serves to disperse the steam issuing from the discharge end of the pipe and also prevents the articles from falling into the trough-shaped portion 222.

Mounted on the exterior of the housing is an acid dispersing receptacle 228 having a supply line 230 leading therein and a discharge line 232 leading therefrom and extending to a point above the trough-shaped portion 222. The receptacle 228 is arranged to meter drops of acid, such as acetic acid or the like, into the steam issuing through the perforated shelf 226. The acid is then dispersed within the steam so that it may materially aid in the steam aging process of the dye printed on the articles. As the steam condenses in the chamber 214, it will collect in the trough-shaped portion 222 from where it may be drawn off through suitable discharge pipes 234. a p a V The washing means 38 includes an open ended housing 236 between and in alignment with the drying housing and the steam aging housing 214. As before, bracing elements 238 are provided within the interior of the housing 236 which support longitudinal rails 240, which in turn serve to support the upper flight of the chains 182 through the entire extent of the housing. As before, idler sprockets 242 may be journaled on the bracing elements 238 for the purpose of supporting the lower. flight of the chains. The housing 236 is provided with an open top and a pair of vertically spaced tubular spraying heads 244 are positioned in the central portion of the open top by any suitable means. The spraying heads are connected with a source of water or the like so that such liquid will be discharged through the sprayingheads and onto the articles supported .bythe chains 182 therebelow.

The bottom wall of the housing 236 is of troughshaped construction, as indicated at 248, so, as to collect the liquid from the spraying heads 244. A pipe 250 is connected to the lower end of the trough 248 for the purpose of removing the liquid collected therein.

The conveying means 20 and 30 may be driven by any suitable means, as may the 'sprocket'chain 158 which drives the printing rollers. It will 'beundcrstood. how

ever, that the variously driven means are preferably driven in timed relation. In Figure 14, there is illustrated one embodiment of a means for driving the conveying means 30. As shown, there is provided an electric motor or the like 252 having an output shaft 254 provided with a sprocket wheel 256. A chain 258 is trained about the sprocket wheel 256 and a larger sprocket wheel 260 secured to a shaft 262 suitably journaled on the frame of the apparatus. The shaft 262 also has a small sprocket wheel 264 afiixed thereto and a chain 266 is trained about the sprocket wheel 264 and another sprocket wheel 268 fixed on a shaft 270 suitably journaled on the lower discharge end of the dryer housing 190. The shaft 270 is connected with a shaft 272 upon which the sprocket wheels 186 are mounted by a suitable endless chain 274 trained about sprocket wheels (not shown) mounted on the respective shafts 279 and 272.

Also, as illustrated in Figure 14, a pair of rods 276 are mounted in a position inwardly and adjacent to each of the chains 182 so as to engage the supporting portions 14 of the inserts as they reach the end of the upper flight of the chains 182. The processed articles will thus be supported on the rods 276 as they issue from the apparatus so that they may be periodically removed and transported to further processing stations, if desired.

Operation As noted above, the apparatus as shown in the drawings is a dual arrangement in that two series of insertmounted articles are carried in parallel relation throughout the apparatus. Moreover, the apparatus is continuously operablein that all of the various operations are carried out simultaneously on the adjacent articles of the series which are continuously moving throughout the entire apparatus. Therefore, the operation of the apparatus will be described in connection with a single insert-mounted article describing the operations that take place as the same moves from the infeed end of the machine to the discharge end thereof.

The insert carrying the fabricated textile article is carried in a stack of such articles by the member 60 and the cam elements 76 and 78. When the insert engages the upper cam element 76, rotation of the latter will permit the supporting portion of the same to drop downwardly into contact with the lower cam element 78. Subsequently, the upper cam element moves into supporting relation to the insert thereabove and then the lower cam element moves out of supporting relation to the lowermost insert to permit the same to drop down into the path of travel of the conveying means 12. This latter conveying means is moved in timed relation with the movement of the article feeding means 18 and the pins 26 thereof moving along the horizontal feeding flight of the chains 22 engage within the notches 16 of the insert and thus carry the same out of the feeding means 18 and along the horizontal flight and around the sprocket wheels 46. The chains 22 with the pins 26 thereof engaged within the notches 16 of the insert serve to move the latter with the article mounted thereon successively between the cooperating printing rollers 102 and 104. During this movement, the chains are stabilized by the plates 140.

The operation of the printing rollers is completely conventional. in that a reservoir is provided from which a rotary brush or the like picks up dye sufficient to deposit the same on the peripheral surface of the rollers. A doctor blade serves to remove the dye from the peripheral surface, exceptwhere the design i s formed 19 7 color to the design so that a niulti-colored design is ultimately produced. In accordance with conventional practice, the dyes ultilized are of the type which contain chemicals, such as sodium formaldehyde-sulphoxylate and the like, which are subsequently reacted with acetic acid, formic acid or the like in the aging step to make the dye fast. 1

' After the article mounted on the insert has been moved through the cooperating printing rollers, they pass over the sprocket wheels 48 where the ends of the supporting portion of the insert are engaged by the annular portions 172 of the sprocket Wheels so as to cause the insert to be moved into a substantially horizontal position as it begins its travel along the upwardly inclined transfer flight of the conveyor chains 22. During its movement along this flight, the bars 176 engage below the outer ends of the supporting portion 14 so as to insure that they will not fall out or drop from the downwardly projecting pins 26 engaged within the notches 16. At the end of this flight, the ends 189 of the arms 178 engage the ends of the insert portion 14 and move them out of engagement with the pins 26, the rods 176 terminating adjacent the arm ends 186 so as to permit this stripping action. The stripped insert-mounted article with the printed design thereon then drops down onto the upper flight of the spaced chains 1S2. moving therebelow.

The chains 182 travel at a constant rate and first move the insert through the drying means 34 where the printed dye on the article supported by the insert is dried as a result of the circulation of heated air within the housing. In this regard, it will also be noted that the upper flight of the chains 182 are supported throughout their entire extent by rails 138, 218 and 240.

After the dye has been dried within the drying means 34, the article carried by the insert is moved into the housing 214 of the stream aging means 36. In this chamber, live stream is fed into contact with the article carried by the insert so as to age the dye printed thereon. To hasten this aging process and improve its characteristics, acetic acid or some like chemical agent is dispersed within the steam by the receptacle 228 through the line 232. The manner in which this steam aging is carried out, as Well as the chemical reactions to the dye itself, is completely conventional and forms no part of the present invention except insofar as it forms a component element' or step. of the combined apparatus or procedure. v

After being steam aged within the housing 214, the article supported by the insert is moved within the wash ing housing 236 where a stream of suitable liquid issuing from the tubular spraying heads 244 serves to Wash the entire article including the steam aged dye design therein. The Water utilized in this washing process is collected in the bottom trough 248 and discharged through the pipe 250.

Finally, the washed article supported by the insert is moved through the drying means 40 where the entire article is dried as a result of the circulation of heated air within the housing 193. When the dried article supported by the insert reaches the end of the upper flight of chains 182, the rods 276 receive the same so as to support it in a position to be transported to other locations for further processing, if desired.

It can thus be seen there has been provided an apparatus which is continuous in operation and thus achieves a maximum output. The machine is automatically operable from the'point where the articles supported by the inserts are fed therein until the same are discharged therefrom. By utilizing inserts which are impervious to water and resist deterioration as a result of contact with steam or acetic acid and like chemicals, this continuous operation is made possible for a greater'number of steps of the entire processing of the sock, thus eliminating the cumbersome and'time-consuming manual procedures which heretofore have been necessary. For example, in the apparatus disclosed in my copending application, only the dyeing and initial drying steps could be performed with the articles on theinserts provided. Subsequently, it was necessary to remove'the' articles from the inserts and then age the dye printed in design form thereon. In this condition, the articles were further processed as desired. This arrangement necessitated the utilization of manual proce dures in carrying out'each subsequent step of the entire process before the same was completed. With the present arrangement, further processing may be carried on if desired. However, it is not necessary in most cases and, therefore, the present apparatus is capable of delivering the finished articles conveniently mounted on inserts for easy handling in subsequent operations, such as packaging and the like.

The article feeding means 18 constitutes a simple efifective means for positively delivering successive inserts to the cooperating conveying means 20. The manner in which the pairs of cooperating rollers 102 and 104 of the printing section are mounted renders the same suitable for use with articles of varying thickness. In a like manner,'the article feeding means is also adjustable to accommodate different size articles.

The transfer means 32 is positive in its operation and serves to transfer the insert-mounted articles from one conveyor means to another in a manner which is highly effective. The drying means 34 and 40 are so constructed that the articles supported by the inserts moving therethrough receive the input of heated air from their lower portions and this heated air flows upwardly past the articles and then is recirculated through the return duct system 208 and 210. The arrangement of the elongated ducts 204 and vertical duct sections 206 assures that the energy put in, in'the form of heat and air movement, is utilized most efficiently to perform the job of 'drying the articles.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and elfectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. 'Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

Lin apparatus forforming dyed designs on tubularfabricated textile articles mounted on fiat inserts of the type having a central article receiving portion and transverse handling portions extending outwardly on opposite sides thereof, the combination comprising: 'means for conveying a series of insert-mounted tubular-fabricated textile articles along a predetermined path, said conveying nieans including transversely spaced portions, each of said transversely spaced portions including means for engaging one of the opposite ends of the transverse handling portion of the inserts, a plurality of rolls along said path between said spaced conveying means portions for-print ing a dye in design form on said articles, means along said path for drying the printed design on the articles,

' means along said path for steam aging the dried printed 3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said article feeding means comprises means for receiving one end of a stack of said insert-mounted-articles and for supporting the one end of the lowermost insertemounted article of said stack, lower means for'relea sably supporting the opposite end of the lowermost insert-mounted article of said stack, upper means for releasably supporting the opposite end of the insert-mounted article immedi- I2 effecting release of said upper and lower means in timed relation so that the opposite end of said stack is at all times supported but release of said lower means will permit the opposite end of the lowermost insert-mounted 4. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor means includes a first conveyor for moving said insert-mounted articlesbetween said rolls, a second con veyor for moving said insert-mounted articles through said printed design drying means, said first conveyor including a portion disposed above a portion of said second conveyor, and means for efiecting a'transfer of said insert-mounted articles from the overlying portion of said first conveyor to the portion of the second conveyor disposed therebelow.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said first conveyor comprises a pair of endless chains spaced apart sufiicient to receive the articles mounted on the inserts therebetween, the inserts having portions extending transversely from opposite sides of the article mounted hereon, said portions having transversely spaced openings formed therein, a series of spaced pins carried by said chains for engagement within said openings.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the pins carried by the overlying portion of said chains extend downwardly and wherein said transfer meanscomprises means for engaging the transversely extending portions of said inserts so as to retain the openings thereof into engagement with the downwardly extending pins of the overlying portion of the chains, said retaining means terminating between the ends of the overlying portion of said chains, and means adjacent the terminal of said retaining means for moving the insert portions out of engagement with said pins so that the insert-mounted articles will drop onto said second conveyor.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said second conveyor includes a pair of endless chains spaced apart suflicient to engage the transversely extending portions of said inserts to'thereby support the insertmounted articles therebetween.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein the endless chains of said second conveyor include an upper flight operable to support and move said insert-mounted articles and rail means for supporting the upper flight of each chain. 1

, 9. The combination as defined in claim 1 whereinsa'id plurality ofrolls includes spaced pairs of cooperating rolls for printing dyes of different color on the articles on both sidesv of the inserts, and means mounting each pair of cooperating rolls for adjustment toward and away from each other to accommodate insert-mounted articles of different thicknesses.

. 10. The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein saidmounting vmeans comprises a shaft'for each roll, first and second pairs of bearings for receiving the ends of the shafts of said rolls,.support means fixedly receiving said first pair of: bearings, means mounting said second pair of bearings on said support-means for move ment toward and away from said first pair ofbearings, a rigid member extending from each bearing of said first .pair, each bearing of the second pair having an opening receiving the free end of the associated rigid member, an abutment member mounted on the free end of each rigid member for longitudinal adjustment, and means between said-support and said second pair of bearingsfor moving the latter in a. direction-toward said first pair of bearings into engagement with said abutment members.

11. In apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising conveying means for continuouslymoving a series of insert-mounted tubular-fabricated,textile articles along a predetermined path, said conveyingjmeans 13 including means for engaging said inserts}- meansfor printing a dye in design form on the insert-mounted articles during their movement along said path, means for drying the dye'on said inse'rt-mo'untedarticles during their movement along said path, means for washing the steam-aged articles mounted on said inserts during their movement along said path, and means-for drying the washed insert-mounted articles during their movement along said path.

12. The combination as defined in claim 11 wherein said dye drying means, said steam aging means, said washing means and said article drying means each includes an open-ended housing, said housings being mounted in end-to-end relation. 7 V

13. The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein said conveying means includes a pair of transversely spaced endless chains including operative upper flights extending through all of said housings.

14. The combination as defined in claim 13 wherein said housings and said upper flights are disposed in downwardly inclined straight line relationship.

15. A printing machine comprising a vertically disposed printing section, a substantially horizontally disposed drying section adjacent the upper end of said printing section, a printing conveyor extending vertically through said printing section and thence substantially horizontally after passing through said printing section, a drying conveyor extending substantially horizontally through said drying section and having an end portion disposed below the horizontal extent of said printing conveyor, and means for removing articles from the horizontal extent of said printing conveyor so as to permit transfer of the same to the end portion of said drying conveyor disposed therebelow.

16. In apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising: means for receivinga stack of insert mounted tubular fabricated textilearticles andfeeding successive insert-mounted tubular. fabricated textile articles to a feeding station, and conveying means for receiving successive insert-mounted articles at said station and moving them therefrom, the inserts for said articles having an article receiving portion and supporting portions extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof, said supporting portions having notches formed therein, said conveying means comprising a pair of transversely spaced endless chains having a plurality of spaced pins thereon, said pins being disposed inwardly of said chains and extending in a direction away from the periphery thereof, said feeding means being operable to feed successive insert-mounted articles to said feeding station so that the notches in the supporting portions thereof are disposed in the path of travel of said chain-mounted pins.

17. The combination as defined in claim 16 wherein said chains form a discharge flight in which said pins extend downwardly, and wherein means are provided adjacent said discharge flight for removing the insertmounted articles from said chains, said article removing means comprising transversely spaced rods adjacent to and below the supporting portions of said inserts so as to retain the same on said pins, said rods terminating intermediate the ends of the discharge flight of said chains, and stationary arm means disposed in the path of movement of the supporting portions of said inserts adjacent the terminal ends of said rods for removing the inserts from said pins.

18. In apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising: means for conveying successive insertmounted tubular-fabricated textile articles, said. inserts having an article receiving portion and supporting portions extending transversely from opposite sides thereof, said supporting portions having openings therein, said conveying means including a plurality of. spaced pairs of sprocket wheels, each pair of sprocket wheels being rotatable about a common axis and spaced apart in the direction of said axis, a pair of endless chains trained about corresponding sprocket wheels of each pair, said pairs of sprocket wheels being disposed so as to provide said chains with an upright flight and a downwardly facing flight, a series of spaced pins on said chains for engaging the openings in the supporting portions of said inserts, said pins being disposed inwardly of said chains and extending in a direction away from the periphery thereof, at least one of said pairs of sprocket wheels being' disposed between the upright and downwardly facing flights of said chains and in engagement with the outer periphery thereof, each sprocket wheel of said one pair having an annular portion extending inwardly therefrom for engagement with the supporting portions of said inserts to retain the same on said pins as they move past said one pair of sprocket wheels.

19. The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein said annular portions include annular grooves for receiving said pins as they move past said one pair of sprocket wheels.

20. The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein means is provided adjacent said downwardly facing flight for removing the insert-mounted articles from said chains, said article removing means including rods extending from said one pair of sprocket wheels in a position adjacent to and below the supporting portions of said inserts so as to retain the same on said pins, said rods terminating intermediate the ends of said downwardly facing flight, and stationary arms disposed adjacent the terminal ends of said rods in a position to engage the supporting portions of said inserts and remove the same from said pins.

21. In apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising: a housing having upper and lower walls, side walls mounting said upper and lower walls in spaced relation and open ends, a pair of manifold ducts extending longitudinally between the ends of said housing ad jacent the intersection of said upper wall with said side walls, a plurality of substantially vertically extending duct sections spaced longitudinally adjacent each side wall, said duct sections having their upper ends communicating with the associated manifold duct and their lower ends disposed in the lower portion of said housing and communicating with the interior thereof, blower means for forcing air into said manifold ducts, means for heating the air forced into said manifold ducts, return duct means communicating between the upper interior portion of said housing and said blower means, and means extending longitudinally through the housing from one open end to the other for conveying a series of insertmounted tubular-fabricated articles therethrough to be dried by the heated air circulating in the interior thereof.

22. The combination as defined in claim 21 wherein said blower means is mounted on the exterior of the upper wall of said housing and blows air to the manifold ducts through a box extending through the central portion of the upper wall and communicating with the blower means and to the central portion of each manifold duct.

23. The combination as defined in claim 22 wherein said air heating means is disposed in said box.

24. A method of design dyeing tubular-fabricated textile articles which comprises the steps of positioning the article on a flat insert, printing a dye in design form on said article while positioned on said insert, drying the printed design on the article while the latter is positioned on said insert, steam aging the dried printed design on the article while the latter is positioned on said insert, washing the steam aged article while positioned on said insert, and then drying the washed article while positioned on said insert.

25. In the method of design dyeing tubular-fabricated textile articles including the steps of printing a dye in the form of a design on the article, drying the printed design on the article, steam aging the dried printed design on the article, Washing the article and then drying the same,

the improvement which comprises carrying out said 15 steps successively while the article-is at all times positioned on a fiat insert.

26. A method of design dyeing tubular-fabricated textile articles which comprises positioning the articl e over a flat insert having an article receiving portion and laterally outwardly extending handling portions, conveying the article carrying insert by means of the handling portions thereof through a predetermined path, printing a dye in design form on said insert-supported article during its movement along said path, drying the printed design on the insert-supported article during its movement along said path, steam aging the dried printed design on the insert-supported article during its movement along said path, and then washing and drying the insert-supported article during its movement along said path. 7

27. An insert for use in an apparatus of the type described comprising a thin flat sheet of relatively stiff material, said material being impervious to water and resistant to destruction upon contact with steam and acetic acid, said sheet of material being shaped to include a central portion for insertion within a tubular-fabricated textile article so as to retain the same in a flat condition and handling portions extending transversely outwardly from opposite sides of one end of said central portion.

28. An insert as defined in claim 27 wherein said handling portions are provided with V-shaped notches facing toward the opposite end of said central portion.

29. In an apparatus of the type described the combination comprising: a series of tubular-fabricated textile article inserts of relatively stilt, fiat material impervious to water and resistant to destruction upon contact with steam and acetic acid, means for continuously conveying one of said inserts with tubular-fabricated textile articles mounted thereon along a predetermined path, a plurality of rolls along said path for printing a dyein .design form on the articles mounted on said inserts, means along said path for drying the printed designs on the articles mounted on said inserts, means along said path for steam aging the dried printed designs on the articles mounted on said inserts, means along said path for washing the steam aged articles mounted on said inserts, and

16 means along said path for-drying the washed articles mounted on said inserts. y

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